Rotary engine.



E. A. P. VAN LITH.

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E'. Per?? van E. A. P. VAN LITH.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILI-:D IuLY 20. 1911.

1,257, l 56. Peeeneed Feb. I9, 1918.

2 SHEES-SHEEI 2.

ATTORNEY EDWARD A. I'Eax wm LITE, or NEW Yoitx, N. Y.

Roman? ENGINE.

. specmeation of Letters raten-t. Patented Feb, 19, 1918,

Application led July 20, 1917. Serial No. 181,878.

i words adapted to be propelled by steam or by internal combustion as expediency may require.

A further object of the invention is toy provide in conjunction with a rotor andfa rotor casing, a combustion chamber within the casing, and means for varying the capacity of said combustion chamber in accordance with the fluid employed as a propeiling agent.

A further object of the invention is to provide in conjunction with the rotor, a slidable cut off or abutment which will operate silently by reason of the formation of the surface of the rotor with which Said cut oil co-acts.

Another object of the invention is to .provide a cut olf which also acts as an inlet valve for the explosive mixture. Another object or" the invention is to provide a Simple cut off which acts also as a part of the ignition system of the engine when used as an internal combustion motor.

With the above and other Objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the improved engine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical diametrical section through the same. Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale through the upper portion of the engine. 4

The engine in the preferred embodiment thereof comprises a substantially cylindrical section 1 in which is mounted a rotor 2 fast on a centrally arranged shaft 3 which extends through bearing openings 4 'in tlf'iey at" diametrically opposite points.

pocket is bounded at the outer side thereof side walls or heads 5 of the rotor casing 1. The casing 1 is shown as having the bottom portion thereof expanded to provide a Supporting base 6.

The rotor 2 comprises a rim 7 and a series of spokes 8 which are flat or rectangular in cross section and pitched at an angle to form fan blades for keeping the rotor cool, the casing 1 being formed with oppositely located air ports 9 to permit circulation of air through the rotor and heads 5 of the rotor casing, as shown in Fig. 2. The rotor isf rther provided with a plurality of expansion pockets or recesses 10, two of such recesses being shown as arranged Each pockets or by an overhanging peripheral wall 11 while the inner side thereof is dened by an inclined wall 12 of the rotor which'converges from the base of the recess toward the inner periphery of the rotor to form a rounded hump or projection 13 over which the slidable cut oiil hereinafter referred to rides.

From the rounded projecting surface 13, the

periphery of the rotor again diverges from the inner periphery of the rotor casing until a low point 14 is reached, after which the periphery of the rotor again converges toward the inner periphery of the rotor casing to provide a cam surface 15 Which serves t0 push outwardly upon the slidable cut oii shown at l16. As shown in Fig. A2, the rotor casing is formed with a channel 17 in which the peripheral portion of the rotor moves and the rotor is formed along a portion of its circumference with the oppositely located anges 18 between which the inner end portion of the slidable cut o 16. operates.

The cut ofi 16 is slidable through a guide way 19 in the upperor head portion 20 of the rotor'casing and is yieldingly pressed vin an inward direction `so as to ride against the periphery of the rotor by means of one or more compression springs 21 the inner ends of which engage retaining pins 22 on the cut oi'i" and the outer extremities of which engage other retaining pins 23 on the -rotor casing. To accommodate the springs 21, the out oli' 16 has the outer end thereof reduced to form the lateral spacesl 24 in which said springs are located as shown in Fig. 2. At*

y in Fig of the rotor and rotor casing, ries pivotally its inner end the slidable cut off 16 has a toe or shoe portion 25 and the lower surface thereof is rounded as shown at 26 to avoid any possibility ,of the inner end of the cut off being caught and jammed by the rotor. It also serves to increase the area of surface of the out off which rides in contact with the rotor thus increasing the llfe and durability of the en `ne.

The cut off 16 is ormed between the ends thereof with an explosive mixture inlet port 27 which is adapted to register with an inlet port 28 in the rotor casing when the cut off reaches the outer limit o its movement or in other words when it is riding over the hump or rounded projection 13 o the rotor. At such time explosive mixture is admitted to the combustion chamber 29 of the rotor casing which has a lateral port 30 with which the port 27 or cut oif registers at such time. The slidable cut of 16 projects beyond the rotor casin and has a lateral arm or extension 31 which carries a contact 32 of the ignition system, said contact 32 being so designed as to touch the power electrode 33 of a spark plug 34 when the inner end of the cut of 16 is resting in the lowest portion of the channel in the peripheral portion of the rotor as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The vspark plug 34 is located in a laterally offset recess 35 of the combustion chamber 29, which recess is adapted to be closed by means of a movable head 36 which is shiftable upwardly and downwardly in a cylindrical extension 37 of the combustion chamber 29, the extension chamber 37 terminating at its lower end in an annular shoulder or seat 38 so that when the head 34 is in engagement with the seat 38, the spark plug chamber 35 is closed thereby enabling the engine to be operated by steam while protecting the spark plug 35. Extending upwardly from the head 34 is a threaded adjusting stem 39 which passes through a threaded opening 40 in the rotor casing. By this means the head 36y may move to a closed position as indicated by dotted lines 3 or it may be adjusted to any point in the length of the extension chamber 37 for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the size of the combustion chamber 29. 41 is a jam nut for fixing the adjustment of the head 36. and 42 is an air vent to admit of the easy adjustment of said head 36. 43 represents the intake pipe from the steam fuel, said pipe having a stop cock 44 incor- -porated therein, and 45 represents the explosive mixture intake pipe which is controlled by a stop cock 46.

In order to prevent leakage of steam or explosive mixture between the meeting faces the rotor carmounted valves or packing members 47 arranged in peripheral recesses that 48 in the rotor and yieldingly held in ,wntact with the inner periphery of the rotor casing by means of compresslon springs 49. The casing is formed at a suitable point with an exhaust port 50 and one or more air vents 51. fT

From the foregoing description taken in connectlon with the accompanying drawings it w11l be now understood that the engine is adapted to be operated either by steam or by the i therein, t e expansion fluid acting between the cut oi 16 and the rotor to propel the same. It will also be seen that the cut off 1 6 has a three-fold function in that in addition to its primary function as a. cut off, it acts as an intake valve for the explosive mixture and as the movable element of an igniter by means of which a spark is created at the roper time in thecombustion chamber. y means of the movable head 36, the capacity of the combustion chamber may be increased or diminished to get the best results and also for regulating the speed of rotation of the engine, and when the engine is driven by steam, the upper combustion extension chamber 37 may be entirely cut off from the lower portion 29 thereof by moving the head 36 into engagement with the annular seat 38, thereby protecting the spark plug. Whenl used as a steam engine, the stop cock 46 will of course .be closed and the ignition circuit will be broken. When used as an internal combustion engine, the stop cock 44 will of course be closed to exclude steam from the combustion chamber of the engine.

I claim 1. In a rotary engine, a stationary casing, a rotor therein, and a slidable cut off operating through a guide way in the rotor casing and yieldingly held in contact with the periphery of the rotor, the rotor being formed with a channel in the periphery thereof in which the inner end of the cut 0E operates, the rotor being further formed with a pocket in the peripheral portion thereof bounded by an overhanging wall concentric to base` wall having a rounded projection which coperates with the cut o, said cut off being formed with an intake port, and the casing being formed with a combustion chamber, and intake ports for said combustion chamber with which the intake port of the abutment is adapted to register by coaction of said rounded projection with the cut oi.

2. In a rotary engine, a stationary casing, a rotor therein, and a slidable cut ofi' operating through a ide way in the rotor casing and yielding y held in contact with the periphery of .the rotor, the rotor being formed with a channel in the periphery ition of an explosive mixturethe center of the rotor, and a thereof in which the inner end of the cut oli' operates, the rotor being further formed with a ocket in the peripheral' portion thereof gounded by an overhanging Wall concentric to the center of the rotor, a base wall havinga rounded projection which cooperates With the cut oli', said cut off being formed with an intake port, and the casing being formed with a combustion chamber, and intake ports forsaid combustion cham'- ber with which the intake port of the abutment is adapted to register by co-action of said rounded projection with the cut of, a spark plug arranged at one side of said combustion chamber, and an ignition circuit contact carried by said slidable cut ofi' and adapted to coperate with said plug for delivering the current thereto.

3. In a rotary engine, a statlonary casmg a rotor therein, and-a slidable cut ofi' operating through a guide Way in the rotor casing and yieldingly held in contact with the periphery of the rotor, the rotor being formed with a channel in the periphery thereof 1n which the iniier end of the cut ofi' operates, the rotor being further formed With a pocket in the peripheral portion thereof bounded by an overhanging Wall concentric to the center of the rotor, and a base Wall having a rounded projection which coperates with the cut ott', said cut off being formed with an intake port, the casing be# ing formed with a combustion chamber, intake orts for said combustion chamber with which) the intake port of the abutment is adapted to register vby co-action of said rounded projection with the cut o', and a movable head in said combustion chamber l for increasing or diminishing the capacity thereof.

4. In a rotary engine, a stationary casing,

a rotor therein, and a slidable cut ofi" operating through a guide way in the rotor casing and yieldmgly held in contact With the periphery of the rotor, the rotor being formed With a channel in the periphery thereof in which the inner end of the cut o' operates, the rotor being further formed with a pocket in the peripheral portion thereof bounded by an overhanging Wall concentric to the center of the rotor, and a base Wall having a roundedprojection which ceperates with the cut oft', said cut oiiI bein formed with an intake port, the casing gbeing formed with ia combustion chamber, intake ports for said combustion chamber with which the intake port of the abutment is adapted to register byco-acton of said rounded projection with the cut of, a compression head movable in said combustion chamber, and means for adjusting said compression head for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the capacity of said combustion chamber.

5. In a rotary engine, a stationary casing,

riphery of the rotor.

a rotor therein, and a slidable cut of operating ythrough a guide way in the rotor casing and lyieldm'gly held in contact with the periphery of the rotor the rotor being formed with a channel in the periphery thereof-in which the inner -end of the cut olf operates, the rotor being further formed with a pocket in the peri heral portion thereof bounded by an over anging wall concentric to the center of the rotor, and a base wall having a rounded projection which coperates with the cut oli', said cut oft' being formed with an intake port,I the casing bemg formed with a combustion chamber, intake ports for said combustion chamber with which the intake ort of the abutment is adapted to register y cov-action of said rounded projection with the cut oia spark plug arranged at one side of said combustion chamber, an'ignltion circu1t contact carried by said slidable cut od' and adapted to coperate -With said plug for delivering the current operating .through a guide Way in the rotor casing and yieldingly held in contact with the periphery of the rotor, the rotor being formed With a channel in the periphery thereof in which the inner end of the cut ed operates, the rotor being further formed withv a pocket in the peripheral portion thereof bounded by an overhanging Wall concentric to the center of the rotor, a base Wall having a rounded projection which c0- operates with the cut oli', said cut ofi" being formed with an intake port, the casing being formed with a combustion chamber, intake ports for said combustion chamber with which the intake port of the abutment is adapted to' register by co-action of said rounded projection with the cut o, a valve controlled explosive mixture intake pipe communicating with the combustion chamf ber and controlled by said cut ofi?, and a valve controlled steam inlet pipe in communication With said combustion chamber.

7 In a rotary engine, a stationary casing, a rotor therein, and a slidable cut ofi operatingthrough a guide Way in the rotor easing and yieldingly held in contact With the pethe rotor being formed with a channel in the which the inner end of the cut o5 operates, the rotor being further formed With a pocket in the peripheral portion thereof bounded by an overhanging Wall concentric to the periphery thereof in rounded projection which co erates with the cut off, said cut off being ormed with an intake port, the casing being formed with a combustion chamber, intake ports for said 5 combustion chamber with which the intake ort of the abutment'is adapted to register Ey co-action of said rounded pro]ection with the cut off and pivotally mounted s ring pressed packing members carried by tige rotor and mounted in recesses in the periphery/10 thereof.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

. EDWARD A. PERK VAN LITH. 

